John Barrymore News

For most New York playgoers, the words "Shakespeare In The Park" will immediately bring to mind the free performances at Central Park's outdoor Delacorte Theater, created decades ago by The Public Theater's visionary founder, Joseph Papp.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of "I Hate Hamlet," the comedy that conjures the ghost of actor John Barrymore, on Monday, November 5, at 7 p.m.  Barrymore will be played by four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines. Written by Paul Rudnick, the reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Tickets are $20 each.

Tony award-winner, Elizabeth Ashley ("Take Her She's Mine") and Tony nominee Tom Hewitt ("The Rocky Horror Show") will headline a refreshed production of Paul Rudnick's witty, laugh out loud comedy, "I Hate Hamlet" at Bucks County Playhouse, November 9 - December 1. The play marks Ashley's return to the Playhouse after co-starring opposite Robert Redford in the pre-Broadway production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park."

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents two events in time for Halloween: 'Poe by Candlelight' on Saturday, October 20 at 8:00p.m. and the classic silent thriller, 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,' accompanied by Wayne Zimmerman on the organ, on Sunday, October 21 at 7:30p.m., both at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street in Cape May, where the theater is in residence.

CBS today announced an all-star lineup of Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles, James Corden and Faith Hill for THE WORLD'S BEST, a new global talent competition series from two of the most prolific unscripted producers in television, Mike Darnell (“American Idol” and “Ellen's Game of Games”) and Mark Burnett (SURVIVOR, “The Voice”).

I Hate Hamlet, by Paul Rudnick, first hit the stage in 1991. Set in actor John Barrymore's apartment, the play introduces the audience to Andrew Rally, a television actor considering an attempt at playing Hamlet. The characters, which include a television star, a Hollywood director, an agent, a realtor, John Barrymore himself, and a theatre-obsessed virgin girlfriend, are delightful, and the show is packed with humor. The Broadway run of the show was cut short when one of the actors was intentionally injured on stage. I Hate Hamlet opened at Oyster Mill Playhouse on Friday, August 17th.

Local summer theater company Taconic Stage Co. (TSC) presents Lillian, a play about Lillian Hellman by William Luce, starring Diedre Bollinger and directed by TSC founder and Artistic Director Carl Ritchie.

Porchlight Music Theatre's Mainstage 2018 - 2019 season launches with Gypsy, A Musical Fable, October 12 - November 25, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

As any English teacher can tell you, not everyone loves Shakespeare. For some it's like eating Brussels sprouts; it's something you know you should do but you aren't certain why and you certainly don't enjoy the process.

Free For All, one of the capital's cherished annual traditions, will return this summer to Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), offering two weeks of free performances of the Company's 2016 production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul, whose hit production of Camelot has extended through July 8 due to popular demand, the production will run at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from August 21-September 2, providing more than 12,000 people the chance to see the play free of charge.

Composer, musician, author and educator Jack Curtis Dubowsky is on a torrid run of activity in 2018 with scheduled performances, speaking engagements and several new compositions.  These include the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble (JCDE) performance at The Art Theatre Long Beach in May as well as a talk at the Voyager Institute, composing an original score to a film about an artistic iconoclast and composing a new music piece for ensemble to be performed at the Etchings Festival in France.  

A classic tap-happy musical and a new production of a legendary Broadway comedy are highlights of Bucks County Playhouse's 2018 Season. Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producers Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler announced details of the season, which will kick off at the historic Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania on May 19.

Composer, musician, author and educator Jack Curtis Dubowsky is on a torrid run of activity in 2018 with scheduled performances, speaking engagements and several new compositions.  These include the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble (JCDE) performance at The Art Theatre Long Beach in May as well as a talk at the Voyager Institute, composing an original score to a film about an artistic iconoclast and composing a new music piece for ensemble to be performed at the Etchings Festival in France.  

Art Directors Guild (ADG) and American Cinematheque kick off the 2018 ADG Film Society Screening Series with a A Tribute To CEDRIC GIBBONS, MGM'S Oscar®-winning Supervising Art Director, featuring a special screening of GRAND HOTEL (1932). A conversation will follow exploring the legacy of Gibbons' work and spotlighting in the Golden Age of Hollywood socialites. A short tribute film will be shown depicting the range of Gibbons extraordinary work and his enduring contributions to design and Art Deco in cinema. The ADG Film Society Series is sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. 

GRAND HOTEL (1932) will launch the Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society's 2018 screening series with a spotlight on CEDRIC GIBBONS, MGM'S Legendary Oscar®-winning Supervising Art Director with a record 11 Academy Awards® and 38 nominations, at the Aero Theatre on Sunday, April 22. Gibbons legendary film honors include Singin' In The Rain (1952), An American In Paris(1951), Pride And Prejudice (1940), The Wizard of Oz (1939) and The Great Ziegfeld (1936). He designed the iconic gold Oscar statuette and influenced the architecture of the majestic movie palaces. The annual 2018 Screening Series “Production Design: Designers On Design,”highlighting the work of renowned Production Designers and their creative collaborations, is in association with American Cinematheque and sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. 

A classic tap-happy musical and a new production of a legendary Broadway comedy are highlights of Bucks County Playhouse's 2018 Season. Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producers Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler announced details of the season, which will kick off at the historic Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania on May 19.

Theatre Southwest presents I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick, directed by David Hymel. Production Dates: Apr. 6 - 28, 2018.

Though the songwriting team of Robert Wright and George Forrest is best remembered by Broadway enthusiasts for adapting the music of Edvard Grieg into SONG OF NORWAY and similarly using the melodies of Alexander Borodin to create their score for KISMET, their greatest success came when director/choreographer Tommy Tune took interest in a musical of theirs that fizzled into obscurity on its way to Broadway, then known as AT THE GRAND.

The Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society and the American Cinematheque are co-hosting the annual 2018 Screening Series “Production Design: Designers On Design” highlighting the work of renowned Production Designers and their creative collaborations. The monthly series will run from April through August, and the screenings will alternate between the American Cinematheque's Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood) and the Max Palevsky Theatre at the Aero (1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica) with all screenings starting at 5:30 pm. Moderating the screenings are Production Designers THOMAS A. WALSH ADG, JOHN MUTO ADG,and MICHAEL ALLEN GLOVER ADG. The screening series is sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. For tickets, go to:www.americancinematheque.com.

The Unique Panel Discussion will celebrate a new book by Ronald Rand, "CREATE! How Extraordinary Artists Live to Create and Create to Live" at the historical theatrical club, The Lambs 3 West 51st Street, New York City, Monday, March 12th, 2018, 7:00-8:00pm. There is no charge for the Event. Seating is limited - reservations are necessary at: (212) 586-0306 or RSVP@The-Lambs.org